Colourful Fabric Sample Purse

I'm doing a stint in a rural area for two months as part of my program.  To fend of the antsies, I brought scissors, thread and a few needles.  I also brought a booklet of fabric samples that I had picked up from a local interior design place for free.  This was all just in case I had free time, and the itch to sew.  I had no idea what I might make.  One Sunday morning I was up early and felt like I should make something.  As I watched the movie 'Big' (the one with the big piano keyboard), I cut out the pieces of fabric from the paper backing.  It's too bad about that paper backing since it wastes a lot of usable fabric, but obviously the design companies aren't intending their samples to go to any use other than as a sample.

As you see, lots of garbage.  Oh well, at least I'm using a portion of the sample, right?

I decided I would make a bag, because I love bags!  Here is a photo of the design process, figuring out the pattern and colours:

I sewed the entire thing by hand.  First I stitched the short ends together to make strips and then I did the thick black detailing on those short ends.  Then I sewed the longer strips together, going over it with the darker thread.  Then the fussy job of joining the ends of the strips into a U-shape and trying to keep everything smooth and matching.  Thankfully it actually worked out.  Then I added the lining.  Since I didn't have the straps, I sewed most of the lining in place and then added the straps later.  Ugh, I do not recommend doing it that way.  It would've been so much easier to sew in the straps and then add the lining, but I really wanted to use the bag the weekend I was getting the straps, so that's why I did it the harder more backwards way (though some might argue that I'm just backwards!).

Here is the finished bag:

The other side, which I don't love as much:

The lining:

A close up of the detailing, which I think really adds something to the bag:

I really like it.  It's a good size, the straps fit nicely under you arm, and it's soft.